Multimeric and multivalent polymer comprising multimerization peptide domain

Abstract

A multivalent polymer includes a multimerization peptide domain and a target protein fused directly or indirectly with the multimerization peptide domain. The multivalent polymer exhibits a probe effect by establishing a nano-size by self-assembly, and, accordingly, the multivalent polymer can be advantageously used in the development of a highly sensitive protein nano chip and the development of a diagnostic kit.

What are claimed are: 
     
       1. A multivalent polymer comprising:
 a multimerization peptide domain comprising: 
 a hydrophobic tail domain of a variable lymphocyte receptor B (VLRB) having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; and 
 a target protein fused directly or indirectly with the multimerization peptide domain, wherein the target protein is a protein different from the variable lymphocyte receptor B (VLRB), 
 wherein the multivalent polymer is in a form of nanoparticles of a multimer. 
 
     
     
       2. The multivalent polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the target protein is a variable lymphocyte receptor (VLR) different from the variable lymphocyte receptor B (VLRB), an antigen, an antibody, a cell receptor, or an enzyme. 
     
     
       3. The multivalent polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles have a structure in which the multimerization peptide domain is present inside the nanoparticles while the target protein protrudes outside the nanoparticles. 
     
     
       4. The multivalent polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the multimerization peptide domain is fused to the C-terminal of the target protein. 
     
     
       5. The multivalent polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the target protein is selected from the group consisting of an antigen, an antibody, a cell receptor, and an enzyme,
 wherein the nanoparticles have a structure in which the hydrophobic tail domain is present inside the nanoparticles while the target protein protrudes outside the nanoparticles; and 
 the multimer has a size of about 600 to 1,700 kDa.